Saturday, September 17, 2011

(Dublin, Ireland)- To date, the J/24 Europeans have seen real,
honest-to-goodness, nuclear gale conditions. The first day fell victim
to the weather (Monday 12th September), when winds in excess of 30 knots
and gusts over 50 knots left the Principal Race Officer David Lovegrove
with no option other than to abandon racing. The event has attracted
42 boats from nine countries, which include the national champions of
Ireland, Britain, Germany, Italy and Greece.

After losing the first day's racing to the weather, day two at Howth
(Tuesday 13th) saw one race completed in fresh and gusty south-westerly
winds and witnessed a win for the defending champions (and current
British champions) 'Serco' (Bob Turner) with Nathan Batchelor on the
helm.

The 42-boat fleet got away at the second time of asking in winds
touching 30 knots and it was the right-hand side of the course which was
favored, with 'Serco' leading around the windward mark. The downwind
leg proved precarious for several boats who struggled with spinnakers in
the gusty conditions, with sail damage forcing a number of retirees.

By
the end of the second beat, another British boat, 'Il Riccio' (David
Southworth/Chris McLaughlin) had taken over the lead but as a shredded
spinnaker put paid to their chances of victory and dropped them back to
5th. 'Serco' took the gun ahead of another British entry 'Madeleine'
(McCarthy/Phelps), with German boats filling the next two spots, with
'Max Bahr' (Stefan Karsunke) and 'Rotoman' (Kai Mares) 3rd and 4th
respectively.

Four German boats finished in the top eight while 9th place went to the
highest-placed local boat, Irish champion Flor O'Driscoll and crew on
'Hard on Port'.

With winds forecasted to increase later in the day, the fleet was sent
ashore and a subsequent decision by the Race Officer David Lovegrove and
his team confirmed that the conditions would not allow any further
racing on the day.

It is hoped to run up to five races back-to-back on Wednesday (14th).
At the moment, the top five are 1st- SERCO, Bob Turner, GBR; 2nd-
MADELEINE, McCarthy/Phelps, GBR; 3rd- MAX BAHR, Stefan Karsunke, GER,
4th- ROTOMAN Kai Mares, GER and 5th- IL RICCIO, Southworth/McLaughlin,
GBR. For more J/24 Europeans sailing information